Kanban-controlled disassembly line with sensor embedded products

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d20002808

Environmental and economic concerns together with the stricter government regulations on the disposal of end of life (EOL) products have increased the importance of product recovery. Disassembly is the first operation in product recovery. Due to missing or non-functional components, an accurate prediction of the number of components that can be recovered from a product prior to disassembly is very difficult. This highly uncertain nature of disassembly environment is the focus of the research presented in this dissertation. In particular, the use of sensor embedded products (SEPs) to deal with this uncertainty is investigated. SEPs involve sensors embedded in products during the production process. The information provided by these sensors on the version and condition of the components of a product prior to disassembly can provide important savings in disassembly, backorder, holding and disposal costs.